BRUSSELS, June 10 (KUNA) - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) announced Friday that a Belgian journalist Philippe Leruth has been elected as its new president.
His election came at IFJ's 29th World Congress being held in the French city of Angers, noted the IFJ in a statement.
Leruth was vice-president of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the European group of the IFJ, from 2004 to 2013. He is taking over from departing British President, Jim Boumelha, who headed the IFJ from 2007 to 2016.
"The first challenge I will have to restore is IFJ unity" said the newly elected president. "I wish to restore the solidarity links within the IFJ. My second challenge is to reinforce the financial situation of the IFJ", said Leruth.
IFJ delegates also elected Moroccan Younes M'Jahed as senior vice-president, and Jim Boumelha as honorary treasurer. The Brussels-based IFJ represents around 600,000 journalists in 140 countries worldwide. (end) nk.rk